I awoke this morning to something very strange – quiet. It was so silent I heard the wings of flying crow passing by my window, and the bark of a dog across the Valley of Hinnom. That was all. No din of traffic, because there was not a car on the road, nor a person on the street. Today is Yom Kippur and Jerusalem is silent.
This is the holiest day of the year in Judaism, so much so that it is often simply called “The Day.” It is the culmination of The Days of Awe, the time when people try to tip the scales of God’s judgment in their favor by making amends to people they have wronged, by charitable giving, and by prayer. Today is the last day. When the sun sets, the Book of Life will be sealed and your name will either be in the Book of Life or will have been blotted out until next year. As this day goes on the prayers increase in fervor, pleading for God’s mercy. When it is all over, there is celebratory meal that reflects confidence in God’s mercy and forgiveness, and the certainty that everyone’s name was sealed in the Book of Life.
But, how can you be sure? Yes, I trust in God’s mercy, but I also know myself and would be seriously concerned about having really tipped the scales into the good. I’m not sure I could eat the celebratory meal without having a deep fear that I had been deservedly ‘blotted out’ of the Book of Life. And even if I thought I had made it, the question still remains, “How can I be sure?”
I think that God had an answer to that clear back in Leviticus 16. People could find some sense of certainty when the saw the High Priest transfer the sins of the people to the scapegoat and send it out to die in the wilderness, bearing their sins away and leaving them cleansed. People could be sure, when after the sacrifice for sin, the High Priest was able to enter the Holy of Holies as the representative of all the people, and stand in the presence of the Glory of God and not be struck down.
However there was a problem with that, an incompleteness. For animals cannot really be responsible for our sins. Animals cannot choose to give their life for us. God knew that and states it plainly through the prophets, pointing us to the real answer, Jesus. The Son of God made human who willingly chose to lay down his life for us as the true sacrifice for sin and scapegoat. He stood with us and took our sins. He stood in our place and bore our judgment. He was willing to be written out of the Book of Life and die, so that we could be sealed in the Book of Life.
But, “How can we be sure?” On Easter Sunday, Jesus physically rose from the dead. Yet, even in his eternal body, a body fully healed from even death itself, he still bore the five wounds of the cross, the four nail marks and the wound in his side. Those eternal marks are how we can be sure, proof of judgment and forgiveness. And our names are sealed, not in the Book of Life, but in the Blood of Lamb on the palms of His hands.
Thank you for these words and reminder of our forgiveness, Heidi.
Dana – To God be the Glory. Hope you are well and that one day you can visit Israel – I think you would love it. Blessings,Heidi
I’ve always found it a bit of a conundrum that God’s love to the point of sacrificing his son for my sins is almost beyond believing and yet that very sacrifice and grace is what draws me to faith. I believe, help my unbelief!
Louise,
I understand. I think I have tended to frame it in context of my time in the Marine Corps and a good friend of ours who gave his life to save his unit when they were ambushed. Jesus ran into the fortress of sin and death to save us. And with you, I too pray, “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief” as there is so much that is beyond my understanding. “My thoughts are not your thoughts, says the Lord.” Blessings, Heidi
Thank you for this, Heidi. May God bless you!
Ken and Helen
Helen and Ken – To God be the Glory! I pray you are both well. Blessings, Heidi
Thank you, Heidi. This adds meaning to the Alpha Class that I am attending at church.
Theresa – So wonderful to hear from you. Alpha is a great course!!! I hope you are enjoying it. Give my love to the family. Blessings, Heidi
Thank you for this thoughtful view into Yom Kippur and how it affects Jerusalem – and how it affects all of us. Peace is so important; we have it so seldom, we want it to stay with us. When I pray for my children, who are far away, I have peace. I know they are in God’s care and He loves them. I pray you too may be at peace and enjoy the Holy seasons where you are, though they are different and observed in different ways.
Jean – Thank you for your thoughtful note. Peace does seem so elusive in our noisy and violent world, but I do find it when I remember that we have a faithful God – even when I don’t understand it all. Blessings, Heidi
So very nice to hear you. Enjoy the silence. Blessings from Oklahoma.
Hope all is well with you. You are often in my prayers. Thanks for you FB updates and sermons – I do check FB occasionally (although not very often – you know I am a techno-phobe!) Blessings, Heidi
Thanks be to God!!!!! Heidi we miss you so! Margaret & Chaney
Margaret and Chaney – I miss you too. I think of you and pray for you so often. Blessings, Heidi
This just reminds me that while everything God creates is good, we are fallen and live in a fallen world. The problems of this world come from within, and the span of human history tells us we can’t “work” or “earn” our way out of this mess and into God’s grace.
Glad you had such a great – and quiet Montana day – in the midst of Jerusalem.
only JESUS the Christ, Bless His Holy Name! Rev.21:27, 20:15, 20:12, 3:5, Philpns 4:3, etc. Thank you so very much, TVR Heidi Kinner for that Beautiful Word this Blessed Morn!
Stephjb
Stephanie – Amen! Amen! I pray you are well. Blessings, Heidi
yes, quite well TVR Heidi; airport security in Glasgow w/transfer to Bozeman within 4 months from now (more flights). Blessed to give 3msges this past month/Sept (Integrity-KingDavid/Uriah/prophet Nathan,etc; Shun Greed-Solomon/Ananias/Sapphira/Young Ruler who went away sad etc; and Spiritual Warfare/Thanksgiving-Tabernacle/Holy of holies, The High Priest, The Precious Blood of Christ JESUS, Gratefulness unto God Almighty in all things, communion/confession)
Stephanie – So glad you have had a chance to share the Gospel. Keep it up – the world needs it!
Well, instead of Bozeman, a ‘trip’ in the form of a severe ice slip has, ultimately, sent me back to close neighboor of StPeter’s Cathedral! 👍 The drive from Glasgow was a picturesque cliff hanger! God is Faithful!
So glad you are safe. I hope you are enjoying your life and work in Glasgow. Blessings, Heidi
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😎great to hear back from you, TVR Heidi!
Looking forward to GST tomorrow and it’s wonderful to experience Jerusalem through your heart & eyes. Much love! Always In His Care, Steph 👍
Thank you, Heidi. How wonderful the message and your words reminding us of who we are and to whom we belong as Christians. John <
John – Thank you for you kind note. I think of you often and miss serving with you. Take care. Blessings, Heidi